The Atonement - Intro

I’ll give you a hint about what subject we are moving into, Jesus just entered Gethsemane and it’s about to get intense. I have to be honest, the idea of evaluating and discussing the Atonement of Jesus Christ is completely intimidating to me. I don’t feel like I know a ton about it, I’ve struggled with understanding it my whole life, and now that I feel like I have a better grasp on it, I’m still wary because do I understand enough to speak and not lead someone astray? Are my ideas reasonable? How do I, of all people, attempt to discuss the most important event to ever occur in the history of the universe? But I’m going to do my best, please understand that this will probably contain a lot of “gospel by Amy” and take everything I say with a grain of salt. I spent most of the time today going through the different accounts of the events in Gethsemane and making an outline of what’s discussed in the IM and how it all flows together. I will be using this outline to guide the posts I make here so they can have some type of order. The outline will follow.

I do want to start by quoting the intro to Tad R. Callister’s amazingly insightful book “The Infinite Atonement” because I love the thought process. He says, “A person studying the Atonement is somewhat like the man who retreats to his mountain cabin to enjoy the scenery. If he looks out the window to the east, he will see the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies; but if he fails to examine the view on the west, he will miss the crimson-streaked sunset on the horizon; if he neglects the scene to the north, he will never see the shimmering emerald lake; and if he bypasses the window on the south, he will fail to witness the wild flowers in all their brilliant glory, dancing in the gentle mountain breeze. Beauty besets him in every direction. So it is with the Atonement. Regardless of our vantage point, it is glorious to behold. Every principle underlying it, every consequence flowing from it rewards our intellect, animates our emotions, and enlivens our spirit. It is a doctrine for all reasons.”
Gethsemane Outline:
I. Matthew
1. Gethsemane
            a. Importance of location - Jesus presents Himself to the Father as a 
                sacrifice, Gethsemane is “east of the temple in Jerusalem.” (Matt)
            b. Passing through  a burial ground in Kidron (Matt) (John) 
            c. Gethsemane means “oil press” – President Nelson’s story about the 
     olive pressed juice being blood red (Matt)
            2. Peter, James, and John
                        a. Leaves the other 8 at the outside (Matt)
                        b. Takes Peter, James, and John for support (Matt)
                        c. Warned to “Watch and pray” (Matt)
                        d. waking the disciples repeatedly (JTC) (Watch w/Me HBE 4/01)
            3. Setting the scene for the atonement
                        a. Some Bibles don’t discuss Christ’s suffering (Luke)
                        a. Meaning of suffering, cross reference w/ Mosiah and Alma (Matt)
                        b. He was “sore amazed” (Mark)
                                    1. Exceedingly sorrowful unto death 
                        c. Elder Scott’s perspective (Matt)
                                    1. Enormous sense of responsibility
                                    2. Personally feel the consequences
4. During
                        a. Endure Satan’s vicious attacks (Matt)
                                    1. TIA – Satan’s fury quote
                        b. “Abba, Father” (Mark)
                                    1. No one else called God “Father” 
                                    2. Talking to his dad.
c. “This cup” (Mark)
d. “Not as I will but as thou wilt” (Matt)
                                    1. Jesus’ motivation
                                    2. Required all He had 
                                    3. His submission was an example to us 
                        e. The angel appearing (Luke)
                                    1. Answer was “no” but angel came as an answer to prayer (Matt)
                        f. Praying more earnestly (Luke)
                        g. Sweat was great drops of blood (Luke) 
                                    1. Hematidrosis
                                    2. Anyone else would have died
5. “Sleep on now” – Jesus waits for Judas